£171k boost for our pensioners

More than 350 people aged 75 and over are better off by a total of more than £171,000 a year following a Pension Credit take-up campaign.

The campaign was organised by Lancashire County Council’s Welfare Rights Service in partnership district councils.

The Welfare Rights Service has been running various benefit take-up campaigns very successfully for many years now

The districts used their records to identify over 75s in their area who were receiving either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, and whose income details showed a possible entitlement for Pension Credit.

A letter was sent out by districts informing people of their possible claim and inviting them to complete a short form to proceed.

The appropriate details of people who wanted to carry on with a claim were then sent to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Welfare Rights officers continued to support applicants while their claims were progressing.

The campaign resulted in an annual cash gain of £171,502 to those people who were not only missing out on the Pension Credits they were entitled to, but also Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, in some cases.

County Coun Azhar Ali, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “This is great news for older people in many parts of Lancashire, who have had a welcome boost to their incomes.

“As well as the hardworking staff of our Welfare Rights Service, I’d also like to thank our partners in all the districts involved and at Department for Work and Pensions for their help in making this campaign such a success.

“The Welfare Rights Service has been running various benefit take-up campaigns very successfully for many years now. I would urge pensioners to get in touch and ask for a free and confidential benefits check.”

For a free a benefit check can call the Welfare Rights Service on 0300 123 6739 or email infowrs@lancashire.gov.uk

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